When it first started producing these results I thought I should keep it quite. Than I found out that the vast majority of realtors won’t bother to make the extra effort even when they are exposed to results like these.

I am always looking for the next great advance in pomoting my listings. Your suggestions are good. I would like to see some ideas that are even further out front.

Tim

Imagine my surprise to see you pop up on my google watch! Great to see things are moving forward with Ed. A few thoughts for you and the others out there considering this edge of real estate (and I have to say I’m loving being the voyeur watching non-realtors do the math on how to apply tech to real estate).

1) If you don’t set a price, you can’t be listed in the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) which means you’ll miss out on roughly 65% of your market. Plus, no respectable buyer’s agent will take you seriously - they’ll think you’re just playing at selling.

2) Realtors (as you have already noted) are not the best photographers on the planet and now you guys want them to do video? Whew! It’s a lot to ask. Real Estate is already the single most demanding field I’ve ever encountered requiring agents to be part counselor, part negotiator/mediator, part expert marketer, part interior designer, part network marketer, part appraiser, part home inspector, part attorney, part accountant, part financial planner, etc. They don’t do all of these jobs with everyone, but they have to know enough about each one to make sure to refer you out when you’re getting in over your head. Adding another thing to that plate is a little over the top.

It might be a nice niche for someone else to offer a service, but that service would have to be cheap. Already we’re feeling pressure from sellers to come down on commissions when our commissions have already come down with the price of the house. The average agent gives half of their commission to their broker and spends half of the balance on expenses to sell the listing and get the next piece of business in. That’s a 25% profit margin - not a lot of room for spending large quantities on videography.

I’m all for podcasting. I think that’s an ideal solution. One thing agents are good at is talking. That is a great addition to the fray and I’m training agents to do this now.

Give me some more ideas! I’d love to take new stuff into the real estate world. Since I am a trainer for the industry, you’ve got an “in” with me. Talk to me!

This is awesome! I was getting thoughts about how you could sell your house just reading it!

I think to stay on Jaffe’s UNM2PNM track (and luckily I’m in Wisconsin because your wife may hunt me down!) you should definitely pursue the “make me an offer” track. It would be a great case study for your book!

Also, when will agents get on this bandwagon. It seems that social media is perfect for real estate. I like your idea of photos etc of local parks, schools, etc. What about video interviews with the neighbors? What about not just video walkthroughs of the house but the neighborhood.

Then, the agent could extend it to have a DVD to give the new owners. Tips about local grocery stores/attractions. Info about the little “quirks” that every house has.

I think that the industry is ripe for this type of agent…and they’d do a great job!

Best of luck! If I tons of money I’d buy the house. Turn it into a Social Media Graceland or like the Woz/Jobs garage!